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“Go shower and then we’ll leave.” I shake my head as I step back.
“No, I won’t let them hurt you because I kissed Rook.” His brow furrows clearly confused. I feel heat creep into my cheeks.
“Youkissed him?” I bite my lip and nod, embarrassment engulfs me at having to admit this bit of information to my brother. “What the fuck, Clare?” he shouts, causing me to shrink back a step. “You are not seeing him anymore. I mean it. He isn’t a good guy.”
I glare at him. “You work for them! How is that any bloody different from me being near Rook?” I don’t know why I’m getting so defensive of Rook, he has made his feelings of hatred toward me clear. But, I can see it every time I look into his eyes, the pain and darkness that wants to consume him whole. But I see glimpses of the boy I used to know in there as well. I feel compelled to help him find that little boy again and pull him from the depths of despair.
“Because I know what I’m doing. You on the other hand view the world with rose-colored glasses and that is the type of shit that will get you killed in this world, Clare. You need to stop being fucking naïve and grow up.” His words sear me.
“Clearly Rook isn’t the only one who has changed a lot in the past four years,” I whisper.
“Clare––” I shake my head and wrap my arms around myself.
“Did you know I have been homeless for months since Dad died?” His eyes widen in surprise and he pales slightly. “Did you also know that I am in debt up to my eyeballs trying to pay back all of Dad’s medical bills?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” All traces of anger from seconds ago is gone from his tone.
“How could I? I didn’t have a phone and plus it’s not like you ever called or answered any of my calls when I did have one. I came out here months ago to tell you about Dad and you threw me on the next flight back home to wait for our father to die alone.” Tears leak from the corners of my eyes and I’m powerless to stop them. “I busted my ass to pick up shifts at the diner to scrape together enough money to get out here to you and this is the first time we’ve had a fucking conversation!” I’m screaming at him now and I just don’t care. He’s my big brother and he wasn’t fucking there for me four years ago or five months ago when Dad died. He’s never fucking there when I need him the most! He takes a step forward, I take one back not wanting him anywhere near me right now.
“Fuck,” he rasps out as he runs a hand through his hair and tugs at the strands in frustration. “We’ll finish this conversation when we get back, right now I need you to shower and change. I had some clothes dropped off for you, they’re laid out on the bed in the guest room. You’ll be staying here with me until my house is ready.”
“House?” I query.
He blows out a long exhale before nodding. “Yeah, one of the seven houses near Bishop’s is mine.” I don’t bother to reply to that, my heart aches knowing that he chose the Murdoch’s over me, his own family. That is a huge pill to swallow knowing that I’m not enough for my own brother to care about. My last living relative and he would rather be a part of someone else’s family than be with me.
Rook
I sit in his fucking office grinding my teeth. Knight the little snitch bitch went and cried to Bishop about what happened with me and Luka as soon as he walked in the door. Typical fucking Bishop though, he just had his first kid and then transitioned straight into Don mode because Knight is a sulky bitch. Bishop sits behind his desk looking like the true fucking Don that he is. I know he’s pissy because Kiara decided to stay at the hospital rather than come home. Car elected to do the same and Vin is just as on edge as Bishop. Vin stands in the corner stiff as fuck and looking worse for wear. It’s nearly three in the morning and everyone should be in fucking bed.
“You can’t kill him,” King says, breaking the tension filled silence. He and Knight occupy the two seats in front of Bishop’s desk. Gage and I sit on one of the couches. I don’t want to fucking be here but Bishop didn’t give me a fucking choice—start falling into line or live here forever. The fucker thinks he can tell me what to do. I almost laugh at the thought. The only reason I am giving into his demands is because me living here means each of them has to see my face daily and I relish in the fact I remind them every single fucking day that they gave up on me, not the other way around.
“What would you have me do? He laid hands on our brother, if I don’t punish him then what type of message does it send to the rest of our men?” King bristles in his seat knowing Bish is right. King’s just pissed off because his best friend fucked up and is about to pay the price.
“We just––” King clamps his mouth closed at the sound of a knock. Bishop calls out to come in and Luka walks in. What I don’t expect is for Clare to trail in after him. He grips her arm and leads her to the couch opposite me. I grit my teeth to keep from lashing out at him for touching her, I have to remind myself she isn’t mine to care about. Clare drops into the seat and looks down at her hands in her lap as Luka moves to stand between King and Knight’s seat, facing Bishop.
“Care to enlighten me on what the fuck happened earlier?” The cold tone of Bishop’s voice lets everyone know he isn’t fucking around. Luka may be his most trusted man but that doesn’t mean he is exempt from punishment. The little fucker knew this was coming and I’ll admit he has bigger balls than I thought. I didn’t think he would actually show up but then again I shouldn’t be surprised considering who the fuck his step sister is. Clare has always been a firecracker and so innocent. She never used to look so weighed down by life but now it almost seems like life has sucked her dry and spat her back out.
“I have no excuse,” Luka says. I give him credit his voice doesn’t waiver as he speaks. “I laid hands on Rook and I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
“Why did you do it?” Bishop asks as he reclines back in his chair. He may not want to admit it but Bishop is a spitting image of our father in this moment.
“Does it matter?” Luka hedges, Bish quirks a brow at his man.
“Yes,” he grits out. “Don’t fucking toy with me, Luka, answer the fucking question now because your life depends on your answer.” My attention is snagged when Clare rises to her feet and faces Bishop. As if my legs have a mind of their own they follow suit and stand. Bishop looks to her drawing the attention of Luka, King and Knight. Luka goes pale at the sight of her standing there facing off with his boss.
“He did it for me.” Silence. That is what her statement is met with. Luka attempts to move toward her but a subtle clearing of King’s throat has him pausing. Fucking pussy, he would rather leave her on her own than risk Bishop’s wrath. She clears her throat and darts her gaze to me for a second, my breath stills as I wait with bated breath to see if she will air out the truth of what had me snapping.
“Why would something you do cause him a lapse in judgment?” Bish sounds like a condescending bitch and the grunt that comes from Gage tells me he agrees with me.
“B-because it was my fault,” she stammers out. “I pushed Rook’s boundaries and we got heated then I slipped and hit my head.” Surprised as fuck that she didn’t rat me out, I’m powerless but to just stand here and stare at her. I can feel Knight’s gaze boring into the side of my head. He knows she is lying but he won’t tattle because he is too hell bent on trying to get back in my good graces. It’s going to take a lot more than him keeping his mouth shut for that to happen.
“You slipped?” Bish queries.
“Y-yes.” He purses his lips as he stands, buttons his suit jacket and makes his way around the desk. He perches on the edge closest to King and looks between me, Luka and Clare. The calculating look in his eyes tells me he knows Clare is full of shit, all hope of flying under the radar and letting Luka take the fall just flew fucking out the window.
“Hm, so is this the part Clare where I tell you that room you were in earlier today has cameras in it?” Clare’s face turns ashen, she darts her gaze to me. I keep my face blank of all emotion, if Bishop wants to bring this shit up now then he better be ready for the fallout because I’m hyped and ready for all of them to know the fucking truth!
“I-I… it was… I...” Despite my better judgment and wanting to see her suffer I can’t. I close the space between us until we are standing shoulder to shoulder and I meet my brother’s gaze ignoring everyone else in the room. I don’t miss the way she subconsciously shifts closer to me like I’ll protect her from my family.
